CONNECTING FROM ALOFT
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airborne communications solutions, Axxess is the broadbandready system that incorporates Iridium satcom, office-style PBX
functionality, wireless support, a high-speed data expansion port,
cockpit flight information and much more. It's designed to offer
corporate-class communications capabilities and a full range of
features and functions.
According to the company, in its most basic form, Axxess
is anything but basic. It offers two built-in channels of Iridium
service to deliver both global voice and narrow band data
capabilities. Additionally, its multi-channel PBX operates much
like an office phone with features like call routing, call waiting
and conference calling.
And there's more. A wide range of color handsets (with
standard earbud/headset jack) and interfaces provides capabilities
that include fax, graphical weather information and cockpit flight
information.
Also, for broadband connectivity using laptops or
smartphones, operators can add Gogo Biz or SwiftBroadband
service to the standard Axxess system.
Blue Sky Network:
For tracking, email and messaging
Blue Sky remains a player in tracking and communicating
between various assets, but it's not known for the kind of
connectivity so in demand today. But as noted above, Blue
Sky Network brought to general aviation the first global flight
tracking and message technologies, and the company remains
a viable player for operators in all transportation modes.
Its near-real-time tracking and position-reporting
capabilities remain a mainstay in transportation industries,
and its benefits have been demonstrated time and again.
Now, with voice communications available, Blue Sky
has notched up a new level of service that complements its
tracking and messaging technologies.
BendixKing AeroWave 100
Launched in July 2014, the BendixKing AeroWave 100
brings in-flight access to piston, light propjet and jet aircraft
with a system light and compact enough to work on a number
of Part 23 aircraft.
While being sized for smaller, lighter aircraft - the
AeroWave package brings a level of service previously found
on larger business-turbine aircraft.
It offers access to in-flight Internet through a low-gain
antenna connection to orbiting satellites to provide worldwide
high-speed coverage in areas not capable of being served by
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terrestrial service. The package offers uncompressed Internet
speeds of up to 104 Kbps.
The company's single, umbrella usage plan covers all
online activities for the flat rate of $40 per hour, with the
option to buy blocks of up to 50 hours. A one-time activation
fee of $100 applies. That's it.
Using this structure frees users from worrying about
data limits or allocations, which can lead to the surprise of
unexpected charges.
FLYHT Aerospace Solutions
With installed and portable options, Calgary-based FLYHT
Aerospace offers a wide spectrum of products that deliver
in-flight voice, messaging and data transmissions to operators
using the company's products.
Among the most appealing is FLYHT's Dragon satcom
system, a portable, transportable, take-anywhere package that
uses a connected iPad or iPad mini tablet as the user interface.
According to the company, no installation is required,
making the Dragon a quick and easy solution for any aircraft.
By simply connecting to its single, portable antenna, for
GPS and Iridium communications, then plugging into the
pilot's headset or audio control panel, the Dragon is ready to
go. The Dragon connects users to an iPad or iPad Mini via
Bluetooth to send rich messages, dial outbound calls, and set
up user-defined flight following intervals and on-and-offtiming settings.
Although FLYHT designed Dragon to primarily serve as
a portable solution, the package can also be mounted in a
location of the operator's choosing. To accommodate either
scenario, the Dragon runs on either a lithium battery or off an
optional 5 volt input from an external power supply.
The Dragon comes with a portable antenna that can be
mounted to any upward facing window, or, for pressurized
aircraft or aircraft with heated windows, the Dragon can also
be easily connected to permanently fixed external antennas.
The Dragon supports dialed voice communications, two-way
text messaging - called Dragon Mail - and continuous tracking,
all delivered in a hardshell case for moving between aircraft.
Garmin's global datalink capability
Likewise, on a more far-reaching scale, Garmin Connext
integrated satellite and ground network links can be used to
provide a world of seamless connectivity solutions - everything
from Iridium-based satellite weather and automatic position
reporting to in-flight text messaging and voice calling worldwide
- with graphical interface provided on most Garmin "glass flight
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